Thu 7 Aug, 2008
|
|
|
|
Opinions expressed here do not represent the official views of PlanetFieldHockey.com or its staff. Comments will be removed if they are considered offensive or of a personal nature.
Comments on this article
|
M Hrytsak
03-06-2001 10:29 pm
|
Report this post
|
Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba have embarked on a new development scheme - the Prairie Youth Project.
Starting this year, U14 teams from each province will play tournaments in Saskatchewan and Alberta.
On the way to these tournaments, each player will learn the basic skills. We are starting small but at least it is a start.
All we need now are volunteers to help coach and to recruit players. It is difficult to provide the best coaching when we are currently burning out our small stable of dedicated volunteers.
|
|
John Smith
03-07-2001 1:17 am
|
Report this post
|
I agree with Mr.Kahlon
There are lots of keen coaches in this country who enjoy teaching the game to youths. And all the need is gudiance. They need to be taught how to teach these basic skills to the children. But who is gonna teach them. Which organization should step forward and take on this role. (Fieldhockey Canada or the provinceses)
|
|
LT
03-07-2001 3:00 am
|
Report this post
|
|
I don't think that field hockey Canada is the organization to step forward. I beleive that the provinces should make developing juniors their priority. Although to be really sucessfull these skills should be taught at the club level.
|
|
Jim buffet
03-07-2001 1:29 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
No its not as simple saying that the clubs should be teaching the youth skills. If that were so, why are we in this position. Things will not get any better by telling clubs that they need to teach there players better skills. WE need some organiztion to step and do it. And i agree Fieldhockey Canada has obouvisly more then they can handle on there plate with the coach selection. So we have to have the Provinces to step forward and take charge.
|
|
Gav
03-07-2001 6:10 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Great article, with some very good suggestions and insight. It is the volunteers at the grass roots level that will determine the future of field hockey in Canada.
|
|
Jane G
03-07-2001 8:01 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
What happened to the Grasshopper programme started by FHC?
|
|
New Coach
03-08-2001 2:07 am
|
Report this post
|
I think the challenge is trying to make teaching and learning new skills fun. Its obvious that many children play team sport for the games and the competitive aspect of the game.
I am a strong proponent of teaching skills and repition. I am finding it difficult to teach "The basics" for an extended period of time during practice. I try to teach "The basics" in a dynamic way but I am finding that the kids just want to play games. Any suggestions on how I can change this?
Has anybody seen the "European Model for Sport"? where they have stages of training for the young athlete.
If so could they possibly describe the model for me?
Do you think that a "European Training Model" would work in Canada?
Ravi, do you have a specific model that you would like to see us adopt in Canada?
|
|
CMU hockey
03-08-2001 3:16 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Great article, Rav. I have been coaching kids for years in the Victoria Jr. Development League, and the process by which you become a coach isn't very hard. A 2 hr. seminar is all it takes to start coaching, and I hate it when I see 13 or 14 year old girls (who've only been playing 1-2 yrs themselves) as coaches for 10-12 year olds. That kind of thing shouldn't be happening. If we had more experienced volunteers step up to train our young children, their skills would develop much faster, and they will stay with the sport much longer. Nothing is more frustrating than having a coach who doesn't know what he/she is talking about. Playing field hockey in Victoria for almost 14 years now, I've had my fair share of coaches who view practices and games as more of a social gathering with their friends than a time to teach others what they know.
|
|
Ravi K
03-08-2001 4:04 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Re: I have an idea but i will wait till i have perfected it before i persent it. I understand that it is hard to teach basic skills to children. But i always turn into a game so that they donot know that they are practiceing the basics. Please have a look at this site. http://www.fieldhockey.com/Coaching/Decathlon/ I have found that this section has alot of good games for young children. Once I have finshed my model I will put it on this site.
|
|
Ed Somers
03-08-2001 4:08 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
I think that when the children are realy young it is hard to teach them basic skills. I think that we have to work there motor skills more. So that when they get older they become better athletes!
|
|
Peter North
03-08-2001 7:29 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Good article Rav. Good ideas and insight. The problem as I see it is that there aren't enough coaches out there that actually understand the modern game. The majority of coaches in high schools played back in the day, when a sideline hit involved throwing the ball in, and they played with banana-curves on their sticks. I've been in arguements with coaches over skills and technique, who have NO IDEA what they are talking about. Then they turn around and teach poor technique to their players. We also need to get our provincial & national players out coaching. I know their time is valuable for their own training, but when it's not, or they have retired, they should be putting back into the game what they took out of it. These players represent the base of knowledge in Canada, and they should be passing down their knowledge to the new coaches in the system. Too many guys retire, and drop off the side of the earth....never to be seen again. And I agree that coaching certification is way too easy. A 2 hour seminar with Jenny John or Eric Broom? Any thoughts?
|
|
Coach
03-08-2001 7:47 pm
|
Report this post
|
Good article Ravi. I think what may need to be added to your assesment is, especially for boys at the U12 and U14 levels, is a higher level of competition.
As a young boy I worked hard to be selected to local rep. teams and to go on to win Provincial Championships. (Not Festivals)
If we didn't win one year, we worked harder the next. This teaches young boys a certain level of desire. If every year a goal can be achieved, aspirations will remain high.
This is especially important as these boys move on to the U16 level. This is where we tend to lose them to so many other, high profile, North American sports.
Coaching basics at this level is vital, but also giving a child a chance to wear a medal gives them drive.
|
|
][D ][ ][V][ ][D
03-08-2001 9:10 pm
|
Report this post
|
well said... the qoute from mark twain.
I agree with needing more players being more involved and participating in the sport, however, the set back is, where is field hockey gonna take them? Especially when there is next to nothing when it comes to funding for the sport, in amateur and proffesional levels. How are your gonna excel? and improve when you can't afford to dedicate your time in playing or coaching. People do need to make a living.(may be a bit off topic, but definately a concern!)
|
|
Ravi.K
03-09-2001 12:07 am
|
Report this post
|
Re: Peter North
I totaly agree with all of your comments. We need the new styles to be taught, by those who are playing at the elite level. The thing about coaching is that you never know enough. Things are changeing new tecniques are being invented all the time. So all coaches need to keep educating themselves. We need these young athletes to aim high. So we need to set high goals. Young players need higher expectations. Like coach was saying. So what do we do know? What changes need to be made? More importantly what are you the reader gonna do to make Canada a hockey Powerhouse?
|
|
To the last comment
03-09-2001 1:54 am
|
Report this post
|
I think you may be playing Hockey for the wrong reasons. Who can't afford a few hours a week to coach junior hockey in the spring time? If you do love the game you would find the time.
And what do you mean "where is field hockey going to take them?" You could travel nearly anywhere in the world and play Hockey. The Hockey community world wide is quite closely knit.
I agree that funding is limited, but don't our nationaly carded athletes recieve free tuition at all post secondary institutions. If my University degree were paid for, I would definatly find the time to give a little back to the sport.
If your looking for $$ perhaps you should try to get yourself on one of the Millionare's tours to Moorepark in May.
|
|
Michiel Blaauw (Holland)
03-09-2001 9:26 am
|
Report this post
|
As a parent I've been coaching (not training, except for some indoor training) my children's teams (mostly middle/low level, from U10 boys to U16 girls) for some ten years now and in my experience some of the most important points are:
- Never forget that hockey is all about fun and social interaction in a team, not about "careers". Having a "hockey career" is just one of the many ways of enjoying the game: by definition only a very small minority will ever reach a level which might be called "top", and most children do not (and should not!) have any ambition to reach that level. For most of them it's just a pleasant way to spend some afternoons away from their computers, and right they are. Naturally this does not mean that we should not try to teach them as much as we can, but we should always put the pleasure first.
2. The real talents often come out totally by themselves: they are the fanatics who often go to the club outside practice to hit a ball with a few friends and do their homework standing at their desk while fiddling around with a ball and stick. They only start doing this if we make every practice and every match just plain fun. Once you notice a talent almost all you have to do is to get him at the level he belongs (a team up perhaps, where he's suddenly not the "star" anymore, or a regional representative team) meanwhile never forgetting that we're not there just to make champions.
3. I think intensive indoor hockey from the age of 10 or even sooner is the best way to teach beginners a lot of skills in a short time: quick passing, low stick handling, pushing, running, concentration and lots more. And most of them like it even better than playing outdoors!
- Indeed Horst Wein's decathlon is an excellent example of how you can make practice fun for beginners. You can find hundreds of other similar exercises and tips on this site, and in the Coaching & Training section of my own site (The Ultimate Hockey Web Guide at http://embark.to/hockey ).
By the way: if I'm correct the number of male players in Canada is only about 1/50 of the Dutch number, so you're not doing badly at all at the international level, to say the least! But don't expect to become a real "Hockey Powerhouse" before you've broadened the base considerably, unless you want to imitate the Koreans (which does not seem like much fun at all...)
|
|
|
|
Peter North
03-09-2001 12:21 pm
|
Report this post
|
Yep.
If you want to make money playing hockey in Canada, your only sure bet for a bit of a pay-day is to join the W.V Millionaires in Moorpark in May. Who is coaching that team? 6 wins in 6 attempts?
|
|
ODB
03-09-2001 2:49 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
To pimp. Theres no money! i suggest joining the NBA!Its all for the love of the game!! I have just recently started coaching and it is helping me with my skills. I can easily correct my own mistakes and in the end i think i am a better playerbecause of it. Theres no better feeling then when you teach a young player a skill. Sense of accomplishment!
|
|
JAck
03-09-2001 2:54 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Hey who does coach Millionaires? They have an impressive record in our league. 2 wins 10 loses and an impressive tie. LOL j/k its obouivs they weren't trying all year! On the article i think that so sort of structure needs to be in place for results.
|
|
Good Call
03-09-2001 4:13 pm
|
Report this post
|
To ODB,
Very good point! I think anyone who coaches can not only better their skills, but more so their knowledge of the game. "Hockey Sence" comes natural to some people, but mant others can develop this through coaching and seeing the game. Hockey in Canada is played by many, but not watched and studied like soccer, ice hockey etc.
If we could only get more coverage of international matches to watch on a regular basis, we would all have greater "hockey sence".
|
|
Graham
03-09-2001 10:01 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Ravi...another excellent article that should have the TC trembling in its boots!! Hitting is an art that many kids seem to have lost with the advent of artificial turfs.
|
|
][D ][ ][V][ ][D
03-10-2001 4:04 am
|
Report this post
|
don't get me wrong, i love the game, and have always made time in my life to work it in my schedule, but as we get older, you gotta let reality set in. Don't you think all of us would rather dedicate time to play the game? Obviousely this world doesn't revolve for ones passoion, it's all about the $, status and power. (here i go again off topic)
anyways Hitting is a ART!, i tought ravi myself!
|
|
Dac Dang
03-10-2001 2:22 pm
|
Report this post
|
Many thanks to Ravi for starting this debate! For more than three years I have coached 9-13 boys (and some girls) in this area of the country where the mentality is still "field hockey is a girl's game". I have gathered some points to share with you:
1. It is really irresponsible to coach children without at least NCCP Level 1 certification (or at the very least Level 1 Theory). Coaching children is not just running drills, hitting balls and scoring goals. It also involves to a greater deal fun, self-esteem, growth, team concept, social preparation, appreciation of the sport, safety to name a few points that seem to be logical to most of us, but not judged important enough to learn properly.
2. Involve your community (we did; our club, the Maroons, is sponsored by a Calgary community), your friends and the parents. Volunteering is the corner stone of the community.
3. Involve adults in your scrimmage. Stress that this is the ONLY (internationally played sport) that size is, in general, NOT a factor. The 12-13-year-old Maroons were entered as a team in the Calgary Men's Second Division (the recreational division, more or less) and competed during the summer with the help of three adult players (recruited from the Alberta Senior Men Team). We won one and lost all the rest of the games; but boy, did the kids have fun! This also gives them a focus for all the practices (until we have a regular junior league) and seems to eliminate most of the chippiness of the adult game. Of course, the adults MUST NOT play at the kid's level, otherwise the whole purpose is all but lost. This game concept has been used fairly successfully on various previous occasions as a "COLTS" team. Is this possible in soccer or in basketball (named your sport), I think not.
4. You can your own grand vision if you like, but the real issue is always fun and fitness and team (social skill) work through field hockey. If you have played the game and appreciated it, then what is the better way to give back to the sport. The kids have TIME, you must have the COMMITMENT. I could not think of more rewarding two-three hours that I have spent every week. Just look at those smiling faces.
5. Just think,if you have a good start, the end result is pretty bright.
Please let me know if I am on the right track!
|
|
qb mascarenhas
03-10-2001 4:43 pm
|
Report this post
|
I think there have been a lot of valid comments made to Ravi's article and I think as coaches coaching at the grassroots level, we really need to place a greater deal of perspective on the roles we play in kids lives.
I think one of the best places to start (hockey at the grassroots) is in the school system. In Canada, I truly believe this is best served by the involvement of FHC in the promotion of fieldhockey in schools. It is done at the CIAU level (I believe), why not lower down the education system?
From a men's perspective the reason why fieldhockey is alive today as a men's sport is because of the clubs ... but these clubs were originally set up because that was the way of life of our parents from whatever fieldhockey playing country they originally came from. However, their attempts to recreate that same club atmosphere will not be the same here because fieldhockey in Canada is not integrated into our culture and way of life as it was for our parents in the countries they came from ... at least not yet.
Keeping things in perspective allows us to ask the question "What are we trying to achieve?" ... and importantly "How are we going to achieve it?"
Ravi and most of us make a good point that ultimately what we are trying to achieve is to make Canada a strong fieldhockey nation. But like most things, this will only happen if there is enough appreciation for the game because we cannot force a nation to do something they are not convinced is good.
Fieldhockey as a sport fulfills a need in people's lives. There is no lack of
sports in this country that provide just this. So why fieldhockey? ... but then again, why not fieldhockey? It is with the latter that we move forward because the existing fieldhockey community wants to be competitive and that is the very essence of sport apart from the additional benefits outlined by previous feedback and they have a free right to achieve this. But to really get some results there has to be a strategy and we need to be realistic about what we are trying to achieve.
I doubt we will be very successful in our objectives if we only focus on things at the club level - that has been going on since people first started playing fieldhockey here. We are trying to promote a sport in a nation ... a nation that is very diverse from Newfoundland to British Columbia! A nation that for the land mass, has a population that is one of the lowest if not the lowest in the world! The reason why other countries have better fieldhockey is most certainly due to the pool of hockey players to chose from. A prime example is the US women ... there was a lot of criticism in their team selection for the America's cup ... but look at the results so far ... quite impressive considering they have 7 rookies on that team ... but they are winning!!
IMHO I think for things to change in Canada, the national body needs to have a vision for promoting hockey throughout the nation ... and maybe this will start in selected provinces with the help of the provincial associations ... but the body that must ultimately co-ordinate this and be responsible for it is FHC.
I guess the toughest thing we face today is that most of the officials and people in office are volunteers and sometimes we see cases where because they are volunteers they have no accountability ... we ain't going anywhere if this is the case.
I don't mean to attack anyone from FHC ... I think they are doing a good job considering the circumstances ... but if the communinity out there is wanting more ... good leadership recognizes that and comes up with a plan ... a plan to succeed and if targets are met mud slinging, etc, etc will be kept to a minimum and feedback will be more positive than it is today allowing us to fix what is wrong and become better as a result.
I think FHC has started down this path with the attempts to rectify the current national coaching crisis. The Canadian hockey community anxiously awaits the results ... but they will only see such if they are made to feel part of the vision and the plan ... this will not be an easy task. Former national players need to feel like they owe something back to their community and I am sure they will get more involved.
But, lets get back to the grassroots which was the point of the original article and where all this building starts ... not only are we looking at teaching kids skills to play a sport well, but also social skills, leadership skills ... life skills - and we ought to be responsible for the results.
I think the way to do that well is through our education system because we will be forced to be accountable to the people that fund it - we the tax payers and additionally, we will also reach out to the rest of the population through the kids (who give the sport visibility to their families ... who get us on TV, in the paper, etc. sponsorship increases, we get more quality pitches, the list goes on) and so the fieldhockey community grows ... democracy with a strategy but most importantly with a vision.
This will only enhance club hockey and raise it from the current stagnant state it is in (or is this just my perception?).
The task is a huge one ... so back to the valuable quote from Twain ... "The secret of getting ahead is getting started. The secret of getting started is breaking your complex overwhelming tasks into small manageable tasks, and then starting on the first one." Leadership does this and the fieldhockey community looks to FHC to provide this.
I'd like to say Thanks to all the fieldhockey volunteers in Canada that make this sport available to those of us that play and follow it. It may seem like you are constantly under attack from the community ... in essence it is only because we care that we send in our comments. I hope you are able to strip away the frustration and negative comments and and use the feedback to improve our sport.
Thanks Planet Field Hockey for facilitating the forum.
|
|
John Doe
03-11-2001 3:13 am
|
Report this post
|
|
Well done Ravi! I love this aticle. I think its about tiem we can start to discuss this on a bigger scale. My question to all the readers is this what is the most important skill that we should teach our young athletes? If its hitting, then who in this country can teach this art to others. I see kids being taught diffrent tecniques. It wouild be nice if everyone was on the same page like the article says. Another way to get more kids wanting to excell in this sport is by making them want to succeed. I think our countries National team memebers should be promoted more so our youngreaders who come on this site can have role models. Make them proud to Candaian and make them proud of our team. Thank you Planetfieldhockey !!!
|
|
John Doe
03-11-2001 3:14 am
|
Report this post
|
The future depends on what we do in the present.
Mahatma Gandhi
|
|
fdhkydemon
03-11-2001 11:09 pm
|
Report this post
|
Ravi-Such a beautiful article, I am almost in tears. I am a high school senior, in the DC area. And I feel I was/am totally subject to the unfortunes that you are saying. When I started playing hockey as a 14 yr old (not in middle school:(!), there was NO hockey to do in the offseason. Luckily, I happened to be blessed with a Varsity coach (even though I played JV of course) who not only knew the game, but was enthusiastic about it. Yes, it is rare that coaches today know field hockey, as I so horribly had to learn, when this wonderful coach left my school after my junior year; leaving the field hockey/coaching ignorant JV coach to move up to varsity; but it's even rarer that you can find a coach who knows about field hockey, but also is enthusiastic about it, wants to motivate their kids, cares about teaching NOT winning. Being that I have no natural athletic talent, I could never be in Futures, leaving me with no field hockey till summer camp. I am highly contemptuous of Futures because it takes the best of the best of field hockey players (most of which, i think, take their natural talent for granted), but I continue to support it because it's the only youth program that recieves USFHA funding. And why, why may I ask, that especially since 2001 is the Year of the Youth, has the USFHA planned NO youth field hockey clinics to be held across the country, or something like that (like the national team clinics they held last yr)!!! Luckily, my sophmore year, an organization began which provided youth hockey, it's such an improvement, but it's not enough. I volunteer with them, so I have been coaching elementary/middle school kids since I was in tenth grade. They are so lucky to have the opportunity they have to play field hockey at such a young age, they don't even know. Most kids there, take it for granted, it makes me so angry. Valery Liukin, at elite gymnastics coach said: "Very talented girls learning stuff, it’s kind of ‘OK, that’s normal,’ because they should. But the other kids who work hard and achieve, it’s because of harder work. And that is one of the most incredible satisfactions of coaching." I feel I am in this boat, but I really wish USFHA and coaches in general would realize what Liukin is saying.
Even, last monday I had to yell at kids to pay attention, I hate yelling, and I don't think a coach should have to do it, but they need to realize that they are soo so lucky. My freshman year we were not taught skills, we had to learn by observation and me, having no natural talent, it took me so much longer to learn the basics (but the varsity coach knew hockey, so she would help you,even on her own time). Therefore, I feel that had I started hockey at an earlier age, not only would I have been a much happier person sooner, I would have been a better hockey player. I would have not had to suffer the possibility of getting cut my senior year--I didn't, in fact I played over half the games and I was featured in the paper, but it's hard going off with a dream of playing D3 hockey and knowing that you won't have had the amount of hockey experince as everyone else there. But it's not even that, I just wish that I could have played my passion at a younger age-as I realize that I won't be able to play hockey forever. I totally believe that there needs to be more everything at the grassroots level, more coaches, more field hockey awareness; more importantly, more people who WANT to spread the field hockey passion, who want to motivate kids, who want to experince the happiness which radiates of a kid gripping the TK elephants. I am so thankful for my passion, so I coach. I coach to give people what I was never given by anyone, but had to discover--a passion.
To read more about my field hockey awarenes, see my essay compliation which was published (on www.topofthecircle.com) at:
http://www.geocities.com/Colosseum/Bench/9876/YOYrebecca.html
or if you want to see the, what I think to be more beautiful original,
email me at RenWaldo3@aol.com
I ask you to read this not to promote myself, but show yothe awarness field hockey has given me (and as a result, hopefully, you can give it to others; most people know me in the field hockey world think I am rare case, but whatever)
Thank you and please continue to support your passion.
I am crying, so it's time to go,
Rebecca
|
|
Umpyca / Sailors Coach
03-13-2001 3:33 pm
|
Report this post
|
RE CMU ..How does the University your at view hockey? Skills based? Natural Athletes with poor skills?
What are they looking for in new recruits? Hi Krystal?
|
|
Jon Doe
03-16-2001 2:54 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Ravi what is your topic going to be for your next article!
|
|
John Smith
03-18-2001 11:04 pm
|
Report this post
|
|
Since no one is sending any more comments muct mean that this problem has been taken care of. What info have people taken and used?
|
|
Peter Munsing
03-27-2001 8:55 pm
|
Report this post
|
A good start, but at least in the US it makes a difference if you are talking mens or womens hockey. Mens in the US is virtually nonexistent. There are many states where boys may not try out for high school girls teams, in Pennsylvania it is up to the schools but they must wear the hockey skirt, so you see it is quite different. A few suggestions: first, have materials and a bibliography available--themost comprehensive set I have seen is from Australia. Second, realize that different ages react differently--this seems to be the Horst Wein approach and makes sense. I've seen coaches of young (under 12) girls in the US coaching kids as if they were going out for the super bowl. Mens clubs have to help develop young mens leagues. I think regional scrimmage and clinic weekends would be great in both countries. Also, summer camps can help fill coaching gaps, but usually only for those with money to spare.
A good startRavi, but you have to break it down.
|
|
IP
05-02-2001 12:39 am
|
Report this post
|
|
Our top level coaches come from those 13-14 year olds that you see coaching. They are practicing for perhaps a future leadership role...don't knock what they are doing. If you want top level coaches at the Junior Levels, money would be a start. Why? Well, most good coaches spend more than just "a couple of hours" giving back. Sometimes we burn out the good coaches by too much "volunteerism"...a monetary acknowledgement of their value is key. Hey... I know you agree Ravi since you are getting so many bucks from those high school girls isn't it $500???
|
|
leofel v.
11-21-2001 6:40 am
|
Report this post
|
|
its a great article ravv it was very challenging specially on part of the youth. www.leofelv2001@yahoo.com
|
|
|
|
 |
HOME | FEATURES | CLUBHOUSE | CAMPS | LINKS | ABOUT US | STORE | ADVERTISE
Use of this site is subject to certain Terms & Conditions.
|
|
|
x34
